Published
June 1, 2026
Updated
October 20, 2026
A federal judge granted final approval on September 16, 2026 to IFF’s $11 million antitrust settlement over consumer fragrance pricing, but claims are not open yet and no money will be paid until the case against the other fragrance makers ends or the court orders otherwise.
There will be no payments to the Settlement Class at this time, and no claim form is available yet. You may be notified later of an opportunity to file a claim. You can register for updates on the official settlement website so you are notified when notice begins and when a claim form becomes available.
You do not need to pay another attorney, company, or individual to file a claim for you if and when the claims process opens.
Update: Final Approval Granted
Judge William J. Martini of the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey granted final approval of the IFF settlement and final certification of the settlement class in an opinion signed September 16, 2026, the day after the fairness hearing. The motions were unopposed: no class member objected and no one asked to be excluded. The court also approved $165,878.65 in class counsel’s litigation costs, $299,308.74 in notice costs, a $34,000 holdback for future administration, and a $1 million set-aside from the fund for future litigation expenses against the non-settling defendants. Class counsel did not seek attorneys’ fees at this stage. No notice of appeal had been filed as of mid-October 2026.Final approval does not open a claims process. The official settlement website says claims are not being accepted, class members will be notified later of an opportunity to file a claim form, and the remaining settlement money is to be paid together at the conclusion of the lawsuit or as the court orders. IFF denies any wrongdoing or liability.
What Is the Fragrance Antitrust Settlement About?
This is a consumer (end-user) antitrust class action. The End-User Plaintiffs allege that IFF and a group of other fragrance manufacturers and suppliers conspired to restrain trade by, among other things, increasing and fixing the prices of fragrance products, in violation of the federal Sherman Act, various state antitrust and consumer protection laws, and state unjust-enrichment laws. The plaintiffs allege that consumers paid artificially inflated prices for everyday products that contained those fragrance products.IFF denies the claims and denies any wrongdoing or liability. No court has found that IFF or any defendant violated any law. IFF and the End-User Plaintiffs agreed to settle to avoid the cost and uncertainty of continued litigation against IFF. The settlement requires Court approval.
Importantly, this settlement is with IFF only. It does not dismiss the claims against the other defendants. The End-User Plaintiffs’ lawsuit continues against the remaining, non-settling defendants, and there may be separate settlements or judgments later.
Status
Final Approval Granted
September 16, 2026 · claims process has not opened yet
Settlement Amount
$11,000,000
IFF only · case continues against other defendants
Claim Deadline
TBD
no claim form available yet
Proof Required
TBD
What Is the Total Settlement Amount?
The total settlement amount is $11,000,000, paid by IFF, the settling defendant. In addition to the cash payment, IFF has agreed to certain non-monetary relief and to provide specified cooperation in the End-User Plaintiffs’ continued pursuit of the lawsuit against the other defendants.No money will be distributed to Settlement Class Members right now. Class Counsel will continue the lawsuit against the non-settling defendants. Additional money may become available in the future from a trial or future settlements — or the case may be resolved in favor of the other defendants, and no additional money may become available. There is no guarantee.
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Who Qualifies for the Settlement?
The Settlement Class is defined as all persons who, from January 1, 2018 through December 31, 2023, purchased in the United States consumer products or household goods, not for resale, that contained fragrance products manufactured or sold by the defendants or their subsidiaries or affiliates.So long as the purchase was made in the United States, it does not matter whether the seller was located inside or outside the United States.
Certain purchasers and entities are excluded, including: purchasers who bought fragrance products directly from the defendants; purchasers who bought fragrance products (other than directly from the defendants) for incorporation into finished consumer products or household goods; the defendants, their released parties, alleged co-conspirators, and their officers, directors, and employees; any entity in which a defendant or co-conspirator has a controlling interest; the judicial officers and staff handling the case and their immediate families; and any person who submits a valid and timely request for exclusion.
What Products Are Included in the Settlement?
“Fragrance Products” means fragrance ingredients, fragrance formulas, and fragrance compounds — whether natural, synthetic, or otherwise — and related technologies, including those intended to deliver the fragrance. Fragrance products include, without limitation, consumer fragrances and fine fragrances.Important: the settlement administrator has not yet released the specific list of covered consumer products, brands, or SKUs. The official notice states that a list of consumer products and household goods containing fragrance products included in the settlement will be confirmed as the lawsuit continues and will be available at a future date on the official settlement website.
The defendants are mostly upstream fragrance suppliers, not the retail brands you see on store shelves. Because of that, the products at issue could span a wide range of scented consumer goods. Based on the categories these fragrance companies say they supply, potential product categories may include perfume and cologne, shampoo and conditioner, deodorant, soap and body care, cosmetics, laundry products, cleaning and dishwashing products, air fresheners and air care, candles, and other home fragrance products. These are examples of the types of products that commonly use fragrance suppliers — they are not a confirmed product or brand list for this settlement. No specific retail brand has been confirmed as covered, and you should rely on the official product list once it is published.
In many products, fragrance components are simply listed as “Fragrance” or “Parfum” on the label rather than naming the upstream supplier, which is part of why it can be hard for a consumer to know which fragrance company was involved. Registering for updates is a good way to find out which products end up on the official list.
Who Are the Defendants?
The settling defendant is International Flavors & Fragrances, Inc. (IFF). The lawsuit also names the following defendants, who have not settled and against whom the case continues:Givaudan SA
Givaudan Fragrances Corporation
Ungerer & Company, Inc.
Custom Essence LLC
DSM-Firmenich AG
Firmenich International SA
Firmenich Inc.
Agilex Flavors & Fragrances, Inc.
Symrise AG
Symrise Inc.
Symrise US LLC
Because the case is still active against these companies, separate notices may be provided later if there are additional settlements or judgments.
How Much Can You Get Paid?
At this time it is unknown how much each Settlement Class Member who files a valid claim would receive, because the claims process is not open yet. According to the official notice, any future payments would be made on a pro rata (proportional) basis — that is, based on the number of valid claims filed by all Settlement Class Members and on the number and type of qualifying consumer products or household goods you purchased.No matter how many claims are filed, no money will be returned to IFF once the Court finally approves the settlement. Any money remaining after claims are paid could be distributed to charities, governmental entities, or other beneficiaries approved by the Court.
How Do I File a Claim?
You cannot file a claim yet. The claims period has not begun, and no claim form is available. The official notice says Settlement Class Members will be notified later, when there is an opportunity to submit a claim form to receive a payment.Registering for updates is not the same as filing a claim. Registering simply helps you receive important notices — including when a claim form becomes available and when there are future settlements with the other defendants — so you can decide whether to file once the claims period opens.
Your Rights and Options Right Now
The deadline to opt out (July 27, 2026) and the deadline to object (August 17, 2026) have passed, and the court has granted final approval. Class members remain in the settlement class and will be notified when a claim form becomes available; the official settlement website also takes registrations for updates.Staying in this settlement does not release claims against any defendant other than IFF.
Important Class Action Settlement Dates
• Class Period: January 1, 2018 through December 31, 2023
• Exclusion (Opt-Out) Deadline: July 27, 2026 (postmarked)
• Objection Deadline: August 17, 2026
• Fairness Hearing: held September 15, 2026
• Final Approval: granted September 16, 2026
• Claim Form Deadline: TBD (the claims process has not begun)
When Will I Get Paid?
No money is being paid yet. The lawyers for the plaintiffs will continue to pursue the case against the non-settling defendants. Under the settlement, the funds that remain after Court-approved fees, costs, and expenses are expected to be paid together at the conclusion of the lawsuit, or as ordered by the Court. The exact payment date is not set.Is Proof Required to File a Claim?
Proof requirements have not been announced because the claim form is not yet available. If proof is required, the claim form and official notice will explain what documentation, if any, you need to provide once the claims process opens.Who Are the Lawyers and How Are They Paid?
The Court appointed Kellie Lerner of Shinder Cantor Lerner LLP and Kimberly A. Justice of Freed Kanner London & Millen LLC as Class Counsel. You do not have to hire your own lawyer; Class Counsel works on behalf of the class. You may hire your own lawyer at your own expense if you wish.At final approval, the Court approved reimbursement of $165,878.65 in litigation costs and $299,308.74 in notice costs, a $34,000 holdback for future administration, and a $1 million set-aside for future litigation costs as the case continues against the other defendants. Class Counsel did not ask for attorneys’ fees at this stage; under the notice, they may later ask for fees of up to 33-1/3% of the Settlement Fund and service awards of up to $7,500 each for the Class Representatives, subject to Court approval. These amounts are paid out of the Settlement Fund.
Questions
What is the Fragrance End-User Antitrust Settlement amount?
International Flavors & Fragrances, Inc. (IFF) has agreed to pay $11,000,000 to resolve the End-User Plaintiffs' antitrust claims against IFF, plus certain non-monetary relief and cooperation. The Court granted final approval on September 16, 2026. The case continues against the other, non-settling defendants.
Who qualifies for the Fragrance settlement?
The Settlement Class includes all persons who, from January 1, 2018 through December 31, 2023, purchased in the United States consumer products or household goods, not for resale, that contained Fragrance Products manufactured or sold by the defendants or their subsidiaries or affiliates. Direct purchasers of fragrance ingredients and certain other persons and entities are excluded.
How much money can I get from the Fragrance settlement?
No money is being paid to Settlement Class Members at this time. If and when a claims process opens, payments would be made on a pro rata basis based on the number of valid claims and the number and type of qualifying products purchased. The exact amount per person is not yet known.
How do I file a claim in the Fragrance settlement?
The claims process has not begun and no claim form is available yet. Settlement Class Members will be notified later when there is an opportunity to submit a claim form. You can register on the official settlement website to be notified when that happens.
What products are included in the Fragrance settlement?
Fragrance Products means fragrance ingredients, fragrance formulas, and fragrance compounds, whether natural or synthetic, and related delivery technologies, including consumer fragrances and fine fragrances. The settlement administrator has not yet released the specific list of covered consumer products, brands, or household goods; that list is expected to be posted on the official website at a future date.
What are the important dates in the Fragrance settlement?
The Class Period runs from January 1, 2018 through December 31, 2023. The exclusion deadline (July 27, 2026) and objection deadline (August 17, 2026) have passed, with no exclusions or objections. The Fairness Hearing was held September 15, 2026, and the Court granted final approval on September 16, 2026. A claim deadline has not been set because the claims process has not begun.
Is proof required to file a claim in the Fragrance settlement?
Proof requirements have not been announced because the claim form is not yet available. If proof is required, the claim form and official notice will explain what documentation, if any, you need to provide once the claims process opens.
Official Settlement Notice
Sources
• Official Settlement Website: FragranceConsumerSettlement.com• In re Fragrance End-User Plaintiff Antitrust Litigation, Case No. 2:23-cv-16127-WJM-JSA, U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey (Hon. William J. Martini)
• Opinion granting final approval, ECF No. 273 (September 16, 2026), and order, ECF No. 274
Filing Class Action Settlement Claims
Please submit only truthful and accurate claims when the claims process opens. Submitting false information can result in denial of benefits and potential penalties. If you are unsure whether you qualify, review the official notice on the settlement website. OpenClassActions.com is a consumer news site and is not the settlement administrator or a law firm.
For more class actions keep scrolling below.
Settlement Amount
$11,000,000 (IFF only)
Case Title
In re Fragrance End-User Plaintiff Antitrust Litigation
Case Number
2:23-cv-16127-WJM-JSA
Court
U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey
Final Approval Hearing
Final approval granted September 16, 2026
Fairness Hearing held September 15, 2026
Administrator
Epiq
Official Website
Fragrance Consumer Settlement.com
